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Robert2
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 18
Location: China
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 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:31 am Post subject: |
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I don't expect BELL a UK company to tell deliberate lies or steal.
They do both.
I expect good UK companies to have some HR training - it would appear that BELL employees in management have little HR or Management training. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:00 am Post subject: |
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Interesting.
I had heard - admittedly 2nd or 3rd hand - that KSU/Bell wasn't such a bad place to work, particularly as regards their cushy schedule (8-12 or 12-4, if I remember correctly). I also wonder just how bad the set-up there is in terms of professionalism and organisation. After all, this is the KSA and everything is relative. |
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DMIXDJ
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 27
Location: Kigndom Of Bahrain
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: |
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It's hard to say when only one person happens to have an opinion of actually working there. I must say though, they have been very polite, informative and accommodating so far.
Things I have learned about them so far:
The salary is SAR13,000.
The accommodation is shared. They say they will provide family accommodation, but they will deduct SAR 1,167 for your spouse if they are not employed by Bell etc.
They will however put your Husband or wife on a 2 week spouse training course and offer a part time contract (SAR 6,000) with no deduction for accommodation. This will not include ins or flight though. They say, subject to on going training it can be made into a full time position attracting benefits.
It does look like a case of 'bums on seats' though.
It is basic course book teaching and looks to be in Disarray in terms of organization but.....
If you can put up with a lack of organization and chaos then SAR 19,000 possibly more does not seem so unattractive for a teaching couple with little or dubious qualifications. Plus for those with debts and no need for a hot nightlife it seems like a perfect saving scheme.
With all the above said though, I don't think we will take the offer this time around.
The money across the bridge is a lot less, but I guess you have to balance this with your Quality of life requirements at the time.
D
Edit: My Terrible spelling!  |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| They will however put your Husband or wife on a 2 week spouse training course and offer a part time contract (SAR 6,000) |
If I understand this correctly, Bell are saying that a two-week "training course" is sufficient to train a teacher? I'm assuming they are not fussy about qualifications and experience if they believe that having been 'trained' for two whole weeks, somebody can (allowing for the fact that it's part time) receive pretty much the same salary as a qualified teacher?
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| The accommodation is shared. |
Unconditional no-no. |
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DMIXDJ
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 27
Location: Kigndom Of Bahrain
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
If I understand this correctly, Bell are saying that a two-week "training course" is sufficient to train a teacher? I'm assuming they are not fussy about qualifications and experience if they believe that having been 'trained' for two whole weeks, somebody can (allowing for the fact that it's part time) receive pretty much the same salary as a qualified teacher?
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Strangely, that is correct. This is what the memo says:
If you are part of a couple, why not become part of a teaching couple?
At the Bell recruitment team we have become aware of some concerns that some of you, especially married teachers whose husband or wife is not a qualified teacher, have about moving to Saudi.
Why can�t we have an accommodation allowance instead of having accommodation provided?
The project involves hundreds of teachers. That�s great for building a professional body, and providing opportunities for professional development, but it is limiting in other ways. It would not work if all the teachers were provided with an accommodation allowance, and asked to go and fend for themselves, in a foreign country. So we have rented four adjacent apartment blocks. This means that they have to be filled; we cannot give some people an allowance and be left with empty apartments! Unfortunately, as the apartments are for two people sharing, it does mean that when a couple is in an apartment, and one of them is not teaching, we have to make a monthly deduction (SAR1,167). Of course, if both partners are teaching, that is not necessary.
Why do I have to go alone, and how long will it take until my family can join me?
This is because of Saudi visa regulations. It is not possible to bring dependents into the kingdom until your own residence is arranged. It usually takes 4 � 6 weeks to arrange residence, and another 4 � 6 weeks to arrange for dependents� entry, which adds up to between 2 and 3 months until your family can join you.
There is a way round both of these problems....
....and we recognise that they are indeed problems for some people. We are going to offer a two-week TEFL training course in Bell Bedgebury in Kent (Date Edit). The course will be free, but you will have to buy a book, and arrange accommodation (help in finding accommodation is available). The course will be based on well established EFL input, will be delivered by experienced trainers, and will focus on using the materials used on the programme in Riyadh. We will offer those who complete the course a half time contract, at 12.5 contact hours a week. Those who also have a teaching qualification such as PGCE (post-graduate certificate in education) will be offered a full time contract. Either contract will be for 11 months. The part time contract will be paid at SAR6,000 per month, and will qualify for provided accommodation for the spouse of a full time contracted teacher. We will cover work visa fees, but the contract will not attract benefits such as insurance or flights. There will be further on-the-job training in Saudi, and completion of that would lead to a full time contract, and a fast track to further study, for those that wanted.
How do I qualify? How do I apply?
To qualify you must be a native English speaker, you should have a post-school qualification, and you have to be the spouse of a full time teacher or already hold a non-EFL teaching qualification. If you meet these conditions and would like to follow the course, or would like further information, please contact (Edit)
I was offered this and told that as I had teaching experience, I would not need to do the course. My Qualifications are nowhere near the min requirements. ? |
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Jim Bigelow
Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts: 175
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Sorry but am I hearing correctly?
Bell are hiring teachers for Sr13000 a month but deducting over Sr1000 for bringing your wife/husband with you? Is that a joke?
What is the deduction for? Is it because they will be giving the accommodation that is usually shared by two teachers for just one teacher and his wife/husband?
I read that last year they were giving quite a generous housing allowance to those who did not wish to take Bells flats-what happened to that?
I would encourage any of you to think twice about theses guys. 13 grand may seem half decent but you can easily get close to that at some of the Uni's out here who will actually increase your benefits due to having your family with you!
What a joke! |
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Jim Bigelow
Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts: 175
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:13 am Post subject: |
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What does an 11 month contract mean? That you just get paid for 11 months out of the year? So that would make your 13 a month in reality closer to 11?
Blimey! I must have got that wrong? 11 month contract and pay 1000 to have your wife live with you! 
Is there any one who actually works for these people that has anything to say?
Cheers!
Last edited by Jim Bigelow on Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| What is the deduction for? Is it because they will be giving the accommodation that is usually shared by two teachers for just one teacher and his wife/husband? |
I see it differently.
In the interests of fairness, if they are forcing single teachers to share an apartment with strangers, it seems reasonable to ask married teachers to pay extra for the privilige of having their own apartment - as far as the college in concerned. After all, a trailing spouse offers nothing to the employer, and it's the norm just about everywhere that accomodation for two people costs more than it does for one person! I would go futher and say that, since married teachers are allowed to have their spouse with tehem on payment of 1600SR a month, single teachers should also be given the option of paying a 'single supplement' and getting to have their own place. But of course, the whole thing is ridiculous - adults should NOT have to share apartments unless they choose to do so.
All in all, rather a lousy contract. |
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Jim Bigelow
Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts: 175
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Just a thought about this 11 month contract. I wonder if this is stipulated for much the same reason as it is sometimes done in Korea i.e. end of service benefits (in KSA usually half a months salary for first 5 years and full month for each year after) are applicable for every full years service. for that reason people often try to employ people on 11 month contracts to get out of paying ESB?
Have I got this wrong but it all seems very shady to me! |
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DMIXDJ
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 27
Location: Kigndom Of Bahrain
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| Jim Bigelow wrote: |
Just a thought about this 11 month contract. I wonder if this is stipulated for much the same reason as it is sometimes done in Korea i.e. end of service benefits (in KSA usually half a months salary for first 5 years and full month for each year after) are applicable for every full years service. for that reason people often try to employ people on 11 month contracts to get out of paying ESB?
Have I got this wrong but it all seems very shady to me! |
I would guess on this occasion, the hire of staff has been left very late. They can not hope to get visa's/flight's sorted for everyone until mid Sep. That would make 11 months until the next contract start date. They state you will receive your Holiday at the end of the contract, I assume from what they have said this will be Paid.
I would probably give this a go if my Wife was not so set up for Bahrain, never in a million years did I think I would be offered a teaching job at a University, however shady (allegedly) it is.
I imagine this forum may have some new members in coming months that will be able to shed some light on the positives and negatives of this KSU project.......  |
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Robert2
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 18
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: |
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When I worked there - there were many ad hoc deductions.\
1. Failure to pay taxi from Airport (as promised)
2. Failure to pay visa costs (as promised)
3. Failure to pay visa expenses (as promised)
4. Failure to pay accommodation costs (as promised)
5. Failure to pay travel costs (as promised)
6. Failure to pay holiday pay (as promised)
7. Failure to pay medical costs ( as promised)
8. Ad hoc deductions to salaries (constant arguements)
They also
1. Stole some of my property when I left
2. Grossly underpaid me.
They threaten teachers with no rferences if they go on the internet.
But really who would want a reference from these cowboys? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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I am astounded that someone should believe that "UK companies do not
tell lies"!
(See the irst post by OP) |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Dear scot47,
Ah, but many of us once were "Innocents Abroad." You live, you learn, you're a lot more skeptical next time around.
And you end up like, say, you and me.
Regards,
John |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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Yes I too was once young and innocent in the ways of this wicked, wicked world.
Then I started EFLing ! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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I have a stutter but am working on it.
Last edited by scot47 on Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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